Iran's talks with world powers to start on October 1

Iran and world powers attempting to resolve a dispute over Tehran's nuclear program will start talks in early October, state-run Press TV reported on Monday.

Iran's ISNA news agency said European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili had agreed to meet on October 1, but that the venue had yet to be decided.

"Both sides have agreed on holding a meeting between representatives of (the six major powers) and representatives of Iran to discuss (Tehran's) proposed package," it said, without making clear if this would be a separate meeting.

Iran last week handed over a package of proposals to the world powers, including the United States, in which Tehran said it was willing to discuss global nuclear disarmament as well as other international issues in wide-ranging talks.

But the document did not mention Iran's own nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs, and officials have made clear it will not be part of any such discussions.

The Islamic Republic has repeatedly said its nuclear program is for civil energy uses, not weapons.

The United States has said it will accept Iran's offer of talks despite Tehran's stated refusal to discuss its nuclear work, making clear it intended to raise the issue anyway.

US President Barack Obama, who came to office pledging a policy of engagement toward Iran, has suggested it may face harsher international sanctions if it does not accept good-faith talks by the end of September.

'Obama prisoner of republicans'

Meanwhile, a top aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated on Monday that Obama is a "prisoner" in the hands of "extremist Republicans" and is unable to change American policy towards Iran.

The six powers - the permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, as well as Germany - offered Iran trade and diplomatic incentives in 2006 in exchange for a halt to uranium enrichment.

They improved the offer last year but retained the suspension demand, something Tehran has repeatedly ruled out as a precondition. Refined uranium can be used as fuel for nuclear power plants but also provide material for bombs.

AFP contributed to this report